Promotion leads to new president named for industry supplier

OPE Business has learned that a longstanding and successful company in the outdoor power equipment industry is starting 2021 with a familiar face to head the operation, as Jay Grafft has been promoted to president of Wisconsin-based Certified Parts Corporation (CPC).

James G. Grafft, CEO of Certified Parts Corporation, announced that James Jay Grafft (Jay) has been promoted to CPC’s president.

Certified Parts Corporation was founded in 1982 by James G. Grafft to meet the growing demand for obsolete replacement parts for outdoor recreational equipment and has since diversified into the lawn and garden sector through its acquisitions of certain assets of TecumsehPower and Hoffco/Comet. 

Certified Parts Corporation is headquartered in Janesville and Jay will continue to work out of CPC’s Edgerton location.

Jay Grafft, a graduate of Tulane University, started working full time at CPC in the role of opportunity analyst and played a key role in the integration of the TecumsehPower purchase in February 2009 and the Hoffco/Comet purchase in December 2009.

In February 2010, after the conclusion of the move of Hoffco/Comet in Richmond, Indiana, to the Edgerton location, Jay was promoted to vice president of CPC’s Comet division.

Jay is assuming the title of president of Certified Parts Corporation after the passing of Steve Consigny.

— Dave McMahon, Associate Publisher, dmcahon at epgmediallc.com